Green Bay Packers WR Donald Driver wants to stick to franchise till retirement - NFL News
The season unexpectedly is over for Green Bay Packers after losing out in the divisional playoff game, 37-20 to New York Giants, in a repeat of their 2007 knockout.
Now the franchise which went 15-1 in the regular season would have to make decisions regarding players whose contracts are running out.
One of those players is Donald Driver.
The 36-year-old wide receiver is not in the mood to hang up his boots yet and wants to continue playing for three more years, and if his performances in 2011 are anything to go by, Driver can still contribute to any NFL outfit.
The wide receiver has entered the final year of his contract with Green Bay Packers but has gone on record about his preference to retire with the same franchise he has served for 13 years.
He said:
"The thing is, it's not up to me. The Packers have to make that decision. If they decide to keep me, I'll come back. If not, I guess I have to go somewhere else to play. That's always been my goal -- to retire here. It's going to be up to them to make that
decision."
The wide receiver had a good 2011 regular season and contributed greatly to Packers' thirteen game unbeaten run that ended with a defeat against Kansas City Chiefs.
Driver missed just a single game this season and notched up 445 receiving yards on 37 carries, scoring six touchdowns - not bad for a 13-year veteran.
The 37-year-old, however, is prepared if Packers stick to their youth policy and do not offer him an extension as he believes the ball is in Packers' court as he has already made his intentions clear to the franchise.
Donald remarked:
"You never think it will come. I think one guy played here a long time, he didn't expect that to come either, but it came. And for him, it's a little bitter. For me, I think I prepared myself for it that it won't be bitter at all. It's business, and I have
to do what I have to do."
Green Bay Packers were favourites to reach the Super Bowl for the second time in a row and defend their title as they remained unbeaten for most of the year, but in a shocking twist of events, Packers lost their first playoff game to New York Giants.
The defeat, although was painful, Packers can take heart in the fact that they played some of the best football in 2011 and that they have a roster that can compete for years to come, inticing Driver to stick with Packers to be a part of another run for
the Super Bowl next year.
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